Electrical door operating device



Jan. 26, 1932. w. SHONNARD ET AL ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE FiledJune 50. 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. SHONNARD ET ALELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 2III]. Ill/\l .Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. SHONNARD ET AL ,8

ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June so, 1927Jan. 26, 1932.

I H. W. SHONNARD ET AL ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed June 30.1927' 9 ShqetS-Sheet 4 avwwntov Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. SHONNARD ET AL-1,842,806

ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 l6'7 '1 I I f 7 66 v I J/ 46 O o 6/ i 33 MT-a :3

Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. SHONNARD ET AL ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICEFiled June 30. 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 26, 1932- H. w. SHONNARD ET AL1,842,806

ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet I a5 9/ avwewto'cS Jan. 26, 1932. H. w. SHONNARD ETAL 1,842,306

ELECTRICAL DOOR QPERATING DEVICE Filed June 50, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 8zz/kwi) fimbtow Jan. 26, 1932.

H. w. SHONNARD ET AL ,806

ELECTRICAL DOOR OI ERATING DEVICE Filed June 50, 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 9JNVENTORS movements of the elevator cage,

Patented Jan, 26, 1932 NOBTHPORT, NEW YORK, HOBOKFN, NEW JERSEY,

PATENT OFFICE OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JEBSEY AND HENRY F. RICHARDSON, OF

ASSIGNORS TO ELEVATOR SUPPLIES COMPANY, INC., OF A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY ELECTRICAL noon ormwrmo DEVICE Application filed Iunew, 1927.Serial No. 209,515.

The present invention relates principally to a novel and effective meansfor the simultaneous automatic operation of the gate on an elevator cageand the corresponding hatchway door "opposite to said gate when the cageis brought normally to rest.

Various constructions for this purpose have been heretofore suggested,all of which involve the use f movable mechanical engaging membersadapted to extend across the space between the cage and the hatchwaywall. These members have proven cumbersome, difficult to align, noisy inoperation, subject to wear and frequent breakage, and in many casesdisastrous in their effect on adjacent doors and door members.

By the use of the present invention all of the disadvantages arisingfrom the use of the projecting engaging members above mentioned areentirely obviated, by the elimination of such. members, and thesubstitution therefor of means whereby electro-magnetic .attractiontakes the place of mechanical engagement in transmitting movement acrossthelspace between the cage and the hatchway wa l. V

The presentinvention also provides novel circuit controlling means forthe door operating motor as well as for controlling the with due regard.to a maximum of safety in operation.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear inconnection with the following specification.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred form by way of example inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 isa view in elevation of agate on a cage, looking out ward, and showing the prime mover, Figure 2is a similar view of the upper part of a hatchway door, Figure 3 is aview similar to Figure 2, but on a larger scale and exhibiting furtherdetails, Figure 4 is partial plan view. of the motive means'for the gateand door respectively showing also the tracks upon vertical section ofthe respective motive means with preferred accessory parts, Figure 6 isa view in elevation of the prime mover 50 on the cage viewed in theopposite direction which they move, Figure is a view in v to Figure1,Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 7-7 in Figure 6, Figure8 is a similar view taken on the line 88 in Figure 6 and Figure 9 is adiagrammatic view of preferred electrical connections as used in thepresent invention.

The principal feature of this invention involves means whereby the cargate and hatchway door are made to move together by electro-magneticattraction. This is preferably accomplished 'by providing anelectro-magnetic prime mover directly connected with the car gate, whichis so constructed as to exert the necessary magnetic pull to cause thehatchway door to move with the gate. In the preferred form hereinillustrated the prime mover is so made as to have a limited automatictransverse movement, whereby it is brought into closer spacial relationwith the door actuator, thereby increasing thev efliciency of thedevice.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the usual slidablefolding lattice-work car gate is shown at 10 the same being opened andclosed by the direct action of an arm 11, fixed to a flange 12 on theoperating carriage about to be described.

In the preferred form shown, this carriage comprises a supporting frame13, adapted to be rolled longitudinally between the upper rails 14 and.lower rails 15 on two sets of grooved guide wheels 16 and 17;

Between the two sets of rails 14 and 15 there extends parallel therewiththe T-rail 18 i made of iron or soft steel, or equivalent magnetizablestationary member.

Upon the main frame 13 is mounted a slidable frame, shown in Figuresframe 19 is carried on cylindrical rods 20 which extend co-axiallythrough the respective sets of wheels 16 and 17, in a manner to permitthe frame 19 to slide laterally with respect to the main frame 13; thatis to right and left in Figure 5', I

The prime mover. which actuates the car ate comprises the fixedmagnetizable memer 18 and three sets of coils 21, 22 and 23, havingsuitable magnetizabl'e cores con structed as well understood in the artof alter- 4 whose mode of mounting is best 5, '2' and 8. Thisslidablehating motor and generator construction; all

of which coils are carried by and are movable with th slidable frame 19.Coils 21 and 22 are located respectively above and below the member 18,while coils 23 are directed at right'angles to the other two.

The stationary member 18, together with the coils 21, 22 and 23 are theequivalent of a three phase alternating current motor in which the partsare located longitudinally instead of in a circle. Consequently, when athree phase current is supplied to the coils 21, 22, and 23, these coilswill tend to travel along the member 18 in one direction or the otheraccording to the direction of current supplied; and of course the frames19 and 13 will be carried along the member 18 with the coils 21, 22 and23.

When the elevator car is in proper stopping position at a floor, thegate 10 is directly opposite the hatchway door, which inthe form hereinshown comprises two sections 24 and 25, supported and guided by wheels26, 27 on track 28 and 29, 30 on track 31. (See Fig. 5.) I

The wheels 2 and 27 are carried by a frame 32 upon which is carried avertical plate 33 referably provided with a soft iron or steel body 34.This plate 33 faces the coils 23, and, as soon as current passesthroughsaid coils they are attracted toward said plate carrying theslidable frame 19 and the coils 21 and 22 with them. 77 This brings theface of the coils 23 very nearly in contact with the plate 33, wherebythe magnetic attraction between the coils and plate is brought to amaximum.

When the current is first turned onto the coils 21, 22 and 23, foropening the gate and doors, the first operation is the movement of thecoils on the frame 19 toward the plate 33. By the time this movement iscome I pleted the progressive inductive effect of the undue wear,

three phase current has become effective upon the fixed motor member 18and the prime mover on the car opens the gate, dragging the plate 33.with it, andthus causing simultaneous movement of the hatchway doors.This c ndition is reversed when the gate and doors are to be closed, byreversal of the phase Succession in any well known manner, such as, forexample, that indicated in Fig. 9, to be described.

In order to prevent slamming, noise and it is preferred to supplycushioning means which regulate the back and forth movements of theframe 19 which car ries the electric coils.

In the preferred form shown, these cushioning means comprise thefollowing construction. The slidable frame 19 carries a pair of dash potcylinders 35, 36 at one end, and a similar pair 37, 38 at'the other.(See Figures and 7.)

' 3, thisbar 60 does The slidable frame carries a revoluble longitudinalshaft 39 having gear wheels and 41 which engage transverse racks 42, 43fixed to the main frame 13. (See Figures 5 and 6.)

At each end of the shaft 39 1S fixed a lever, 44, the opposite ends ofwhich are pivotally connected withthe u or ends of the dash pot pistonrods 45, 46. t will therefore be evident that, when the frame 19 slidestoward the plate 33, the revolution of the gears 40, 4:1 and shaft 39will cause tiltin" of the levers 44 to operate one air of das pots,while return movement 0 the slidable frame will cause opposite movementof the levers 44 which will be resisted by the other pair of dash pots;thus slamming is prevented in both directions.

Movement of the frame 19 toward the plate 33 over the door 24 is causedby electro-mag netic attraction as already described, and this causesthe frame 19 to remainnear the plate 33 until current is discontinuedwhen the door is finally closed. Thereupon the slidable frame isreturned to normal position by the springs 47 actingupon arms 48 fixedon the shaft 39. (See Figs. 6 and 8.)

Current is brought to the coils 21, 22 and 23 by wires 49, extendin froma brush carrying plate 50 carrying brushes which make continuous contactwith three bus-bars 51 above the prime mover already described.

The doors 24 and 25 may be prevented from slamming in any desiredmanner. In the drawings the two armed lever 52 is mounted at '53 on t edoor 25, one end of 52 being pivotally co nected with a lever 54 pivotaly mounted upon the door 24. The other end of 52 is connected by thepivoted arm 55 to a rotary oil checking device 56 or equivalent device.1

It is desirable that the doors24 and 25 should not be capable of openingsave from the car, and it is one feature of the invention that means areprovided w ereby these doors remain automaticall locked except whencurrent is turned on rom the car to open them. At the same time thesemeans are so arranged as to permit a slight openingv of the doors topermit disengagement in case of anyone becoming caught in the doors byaccident.

Referring particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 5, it will be seen that along locking bar 57 is mounted upon arms 58 ivoted at the two ends ofthe bar as at 59. lormally this bar lies in the path of the abutment bar60, attached to the frame carrying the door 24 and plate 33. As clearlyshown in Figures 2 and not come against the end of the bar 57 until thedoor 24 has been opened a short distance, which can be re ulated at willby adjustment of the bar 60. ormally, however, the doors can only be 0ened far enou h to brin the bar 60 against t e bar 57.

When the foors are opened electrically pivotally resent I from the cage,however, see Fig. 9') by closing ushbutton contact 1 which energizesopening relay 77, and a pair of contacts 90 operated by said relay 77completes a circuit through relay 61, the core 62 (Fig. 5) of whichlifts the arm 58 and removes the bar from the path of movement of thebar 60, thus ermitting the hatchway doors to open. Re-

ay 61 remains energized for the full length,

of the opening movement and becomes de-. energized when the time relay79 opens'its contact 81 thereby de-energizing opening relay 77. As isevident from lnspection of Figure 5, when the doors open, the bar 60slides along the under surface of the bar 57, keeping it automaticallylifted in the unlocked position whether or not there be any current inthe solenoid 61; which, consequently only needs to operate momentarily.

When the doors 24, 25 close, the bar 60 passes out from under 57, whichat once falls into locking position again.

In case of accidental failure of the solenoid 61 to act, the doors canbe manually unlocked from the car b means of a bell crank lever 162which pulls own on a bar 63 raising the end of the finger 64 under thebar 57.

The bar can thus be lifted, permitting the doors 24 and 25 to be opened.

The solenoid 61 is also preferabl used when energized to swing the bellcran lever 65 fulcrumed at 66, whereby an interlocking switch 67 isopened, preventing operation of the motor that drives the elevator, in awell known manner. Thus when the door and gate opening motor is suppliedwith current to open the gate and doors, the elevator cage cannot bemoved This switch operation is preferably made more or less gradual, toprevent violent movements,,by a diaphragm cushioning means 68 orequivalent device.

In Fi ures 2 and 3 is shown a form of auxiliary yielding lock preferablyemployed in connection herewith. This consists of a roller 168 on theend of a pivotally mounted lever 69, which is drawn upward by a spring70, so as to force the roller 68 against the under side of the rail-28or its equivalent.

When the door is closed, as in Figure 2, the roller is pressed into anotched portion of tl.o rail 28, as shown.

The means for controlling the various electrical circuits for openingand closing the gates and doors may take a great variety of forms.Merely by way of example, Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically one ofmany ap ropriate arrangements employing devices we 1 known In this art.

The three sets of motlve coils are shown" connected in Delta formationat 21, 22 and 23, and these are energized for opening the gate and dooras already described, by clos- 7 ing the set of three switch contactsshown at O in Fig. 9; while closing of gate and door is accomplishedwhen the three contacts G are heretofore described. lllOIlS to elevatorsand door openers 1n genlelral are well known and need no descriptionere. 7

At 71 and 72 are shown push buttons or switches preferably located inthe cage or car, which serves as illustrative examples of the meansemployed to initiate operation of the door controlling means. The pushbutton 71 is usedfor opening, and the button 72 for closing the gate anddoor in each case. The operation in opening and closing by means of thecircuits shown is as follows- When the button 71 is pressed currentpasses from the main conductor 73 to the main conductor 74 by means ofwire 75, through three sets of relay coils described hereinafter, and byWire 76.

The relay coils in question are the opening relay 77, the automaticallyselected interlock relays 7 8 which act to open the respective interlockswitches 67 for the different floors, and the time relay 79.

W hen circuit has been closed through those three relay coils inmultiple arc, three things occur, as follows (a) The opening relay 77causes the gate and door opening contacts 0 to close to start the gateand door to open (1)) At the same time the relay 77 closes contact atswitch 80, so that the attendant may release the button 71 while theoperating circuit is kept closed through 80. A circuit is also closed atcontacts 90 which energizes relay 61.

(0) One of the coils 78 opens the appropriate safety switch 67 at thefloor where the door is being opened. The means for selecting thesecolls automatically are well known. One construction for this generalpurpose is shown in U. S. Patent No. 826,752.

(a?) The time regulated coil or relay 79 operates at a predeterminedtime, correspond-- ing to the opening of the gate and door, to open theswitch 81, thereby de-energizing all tgi'ee coils 7 7, 78 and 79 andrendering them 1 e.

When the gate and door are to be closed the switch 72 is closed and theoperations set up are entirely similar to those already de- The closingcoil 82 closes the switches C These contacts are con- 1 lever connectedwith said 0f the gate and door. At the same time it closes the switch83; and finally the time coil 8d opens the switch 85 when the gate anddoor are closed.

The details of these coils and switches require no description, beingwell known in the art, and merely recited here as one example of the.various ways in which the novel features of this invention may be madeuseful and effective.

In our claims the expression door is to be understood as applying to anyform of door, gate or barrier, unless made more specific in meaning bythe context.

This invention ma be embodied in a great variety of forms withoutdeparting from the scope of our claims, and we are not to be limited tothe details herein shown and described.

What we claim is- 1. Apparatus for moving a door comprising a stationarylongitudinal member of magnetizable material in combination with aplurality of sets of coils adapted to move with the door and directedtoward said stationary member by the electro-magnetic inductive forcecreated upon passage of current to said coils and means for supplyingelectric current to said coils.

2. Door operating means comprising two parallel pairs of rails, acarriage having wheels adapted to roll along said rails, a transverselymovable frame on said carriage, and .electro-magnetic motive means onsaid frame.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in combination with a spring mechanismadapted to move the transversely movable frame in one direction.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 in combination with a rack on said carria e,dash pots on the transversely movable f rame, a pivoted dash pots and apinion on said lever engaging the rack on the carriage.

5. A door carrying a mass of magnetizable material, a second doormovable close to the first named door, and an electro-magnetic motivemeans mounted above said second door adapted to open and close the sameand also adapted to attract said magnetizable material on the first doorto cause the two doors to move together.

6. In an elevator system a floor door and a car gate adapted to moveparallel one to the other; in combination with anelectro-magnet mountedon one of the two. and means on the other adapted to be attractedthereby, whereby on opening and closing either the gate or the door theother of the two will be opened or closed at the same time.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the electro-magnet is monnted'so asto be adapted to move laterally so as to' approach or to recede from theother door or gate.

to initiate closure 8. A magnetic electric operator for a doorcomprising a stationary longitudinal member of iron or steel setparallel to the intended direction of movement of the door, a set ofelectro-magnetic coils mounted to move with the door with their olesclose to said longitudinal member, and means for producing a progressivepolarization of said coils, to cause movement of the door-parallel tosaid longitudinal member.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 in combination with a second door providedwith means adapted to be magnetically attracted by said coils to causesimultaneous movement of said doors. I

10. Cushioning mechanism for doors comprising a pair of dashpots, aplunger in each dashpot, a pivoted lever connected with said plungers, atransversely-movable frame supporting said dashpots, and means wherebythe transverse motion of. said frame rocks said pivoted lever to causereciprocating motion of said plungers.

11. Interlocking means for elevators comprising a safety switchpreventing operation of the elevator hoisting means when in circuitopenin position, a lock for prevent ing opening 0 a shaftway door, adoor opening motor, means to open said safety switch and unlock saiddoor, means for energizing said unlocking means, and means for preventaing effective operation of said door opening motor prior to theoperation of said unlock- .ing means.

In testimony whereof we have hereto 'aflixed our signatures on this 27thday of June, 1927.

HAROLD W. SHONNARD. HENRY F. RICHARDSON.

